Our Round Robin blog for Saturday, February 15th, is on the topic of Romance. If you write romance, what do you like (or dislike) about the genre and all other genres? Do you include romance in your stories?
I have always enjoyed reading romance novels, from my first
Georgette Heyer Regency romance when I was thirteen to the latest contemporary romance. They were and are pure escapism, which is why I write romance.
Over the years, many people I have met who have learned I am
an author have told me they could write a romance as “It’s only a basic formula,
after all.” And as one close friend, who should have known better, once said, “Two
people meet, fall in love, get married, have two children and a dog. The end.”
She had completely ignored the times she had seen or heard
me almost pulling my hair out while trying to determine the nuances of building
my characters to make them unique and plausible or deciding what
subplot would best create confusion and conflict in their burgeoning relationship.
Romance Writers of America defines romance as ‘two basic
elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally
satisfying and optimistic ending.’
As with any genre, subplots and conflict are necessary parts of the storytelling process if you want to
I enjoy writing romance, especially historical romance,
because I love putting my very proper heroines into unexpected and sometimes
dangerous situations. They are not simpering sampler stitchers but real live
flesh and blood, up and at ‘em in-your-face type gals. As I have often been
told, my heroines are far too out of the box for a traditional Regency romance,
but those are the kinds of characters I like, so that’s what I write and make
no apologies for. The fact that my research into the historical facts for the
Regency years (strictly 1811 – 1820) is in-depth and solid enough to create my
settings and clothe my characters realistically is rarely, if ever, commented on.
My heroes, the guys who often raise their eyebrows at the shenanigans my gals become embroiled in,
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| Vincent Cassel |
Novels set before 1950 are considered historical, and my
historical romances have covered the years 1814 to 1818 (Regency) 1907 to 1918
(Edwardian) and 1935, this last being Book #1 in BWL Publishing Inc’s Canadian
Historical Brides Collection.
I am currently working on a cozy mystery series, but I have no doubt that I will eventually return to where it all began, particularly as another writer friend challenged me to write a Scottish Regency romance. Hmm. That might mean a return trip to Edinburgh!
Thanks to Skye Taylor for this month's topic, and welcome to our new bloggers, Belinda Edwards and Sally Odgers.
Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-3pV
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.
Belinda Edwards https://booksbybelinda.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator https://escapewithawriter.
Sally Odgers https://behindsallysbooks.
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/
This post made me smile. I don't write historical romance and I can't begin to image how much research you need. Writing stories that you want to read is the way to go
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Lynnda! Yes, research is a must with historical novels. Still, I have had to research every book I have written, even the contemporary Western romances. I knew very little about ranching but wanted to be as realistic as possible.
DeleteThanks for the welcome! Yes... all that research for historical settings can take a long time and so few people seem to notice. The atypical is always fun, and there always were atypical men and women... some of the stories I come across in TROVE are almost unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteI have always maintained that in any era there were and are people who do not conform and stand out accordingly.
DeleteIt is amazing how swiftly people dismiss all the research and work it takes to create a novel simply because it's romance. I think it's getting better these days, with authors like Diana Gabaldon taking center stage. There so much research in there that historical romances are (at least I hope) getting a second look from people.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing about romance, which always had a bad rep, is that their sales still drive the market. In 2023 there was over $1.4 billion in sales, representing 39 million romance book sales, an increase of 52% over 2022.
DeleteGeorgette Heyer is where I first met romance in a novel - and actually, her heroines were always on the feisty, out of the box, side too. Which is why I so loved her stories as opposed to others who shall remain nameless. Unfortunately too many books in the romance genre fail to incorporate much of a subplot and then they become less entertaining. As you point out, reading (like TV or Movies) is escape from the hum drum of every day and it should engage our adventurous side.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I forgot to sign in and it left this as anonymous - this is Skye Taylor
DeleteSkye, my favourite Georgette Heyer heroine is Frederica, with Mary Challoner (Devil's Cub) a close second. But then there is the Grand Sophy - maybe I better stop there!
DeleteInformation and rich in details, your posts are always informative. Before 1950 is now considered a historical novel…well, at least it isn’t considered ancient history!
ReplyDeleteConnie V
Thanks for the comment, Connie. And your ancient history quip made me chuckle.
Delete'the nuances of building my characters to make them unique and plausible' - I'm with you there, Victoria. Also, as the author of three early nineteenth century historical romances set in Edinburgh, just let me say how enjoyable they are to write. The Edinburgh New Town and George Square with vestiges of what went before still visible in the High Street are an eternal delight. Anne Stenhouse
ReplyDeleteI loved Edinburgh. I didn't have a great deal of time but I did go to George Square intending to tour the Georgian House. Sadly, it was closed because of some renovations taking place. I also missed walking along Grassmarket Street. Oh well, these two things should top my list for the next time I visit Edinburgh, maybe in 2026.
ReplyDelete